AMD plans to unleash its DirectX 11 compatible GPUs onto the market before the end of the year Windows Middle East has learned. The firm hopes to have DirectX 11 parts available before arch rival nVidia releases its ‘GT300' series of cards.

The high-end card is expected to be known as the Radeon HD 5870 though it is currently known by its codename ‘RV870'. A dual-GPU, ultra-high-end card, likely to be known as the Radeon HD 5870X2 and codenamed ‘RV800' is expected to be the flagship of the new series.

The mid-range card in the meanwhile, codenamed ‘RV840', is expected to follow and will most probably be sold under the Radeon HD 5850 name.

AMD originally planned to release these cards in quarter four of this year to go along with the launch of Microsoft's DirectX 11. However, AMD may push its launch forward to coincide with the release of Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system.